Extremely Low Frequency Radiation Enhances Soybean Chlorophyll Index and Nutrient Use Efficiency Under Suboptimal Conditions

Management practices that optimize physiological responses of crops can be applied in agriculture to achieve higher productivity in challenging environments limited by nutrient availability. Extremely Low Frequency (ELF), a type of non-ionizing radiation in the range of 0.3 to 300 Hz, interacts with biological systems and has potential applications in sustainable agriculture. This study evaluates the effects of ELF on morphophysiological parameters of soybean plants during the vegetative stage. Plants grown under controlled conditions were subjected to ELF treatments-Control, TA (which increases interatomic spacing), and TB (which decreases interatomic spacing)-in combination with three nutrient solution strengths (50%, 75%, and 100% of the Hoagland solution). Chlorophyll index, root and shoot length, and dry mass were measured at the end of experiment. ELF treatment significantly enhanced chlorophyll index, with treatment TB showing the greatest increase. This may suggest improved nutrient assimilation of key nutrients such as nitrogen and magnesium, which are critical for chlorophyll synthesis. These findings demonstrate the potential of ELF treatment to enhance plant physiological performance, even under nutrient-limited conditions. When combined with nutrient solutions, ELF exposure may promote plant health and growth by increasing chlorophyll index and may improve nutrient uptake. This approach represents a promising and sustainable strategy to boost crop productivity and resource use efficiency in agricultural systems.